been her own Tit. Oh lovely fair one little dost thou know aside How hard a Trial thou must undergo Heav'n oh my heart Paul What is 't your Grief should raise For her whom almost all the East obeys Tit. Command Paulinus that these retreat Paul moves his hand and all the rest exti Râ—mâ— of my purposes uncertain yet Expâ—cts to know the fortune of the Queen Their Murmurings I have heard and Troubles seen The business of our Love is the Discourse And expectation of the Universe And by the face of my affairs I find 'T is time that I resolve and fix my mind Tell me Paulinus justly and be free What says the World of Berenice and me Paul In every heart you Admiration raise All Your high Vertues and her Beauty praise Tit. Alas Thou answerst wide of my desire Paulinus be my Friend and come yet nigher How do they of my sighs and vows approve Or what expect they from so true a love Paul Love or not love Sir all is in your power The Court will second still the Emperour Tit. Courtiers Paulinus seldom are sincere To please their Master they have too much care The Court did Nero's horrid Acts applaud To all his lusts subscrib'd and call'd him God Th' Idolatrous Court shall never judg for me No my Paulinus I rely on thee What then must Berenice expect declare Will Rome be genâ—le to her or severe My happiness is plac'd in her alone Now they have rais'd me to the Imperial Throne Where on my head continual cares must fall Will they deny me what may sweeten all Paul Her vertues they acknowledg and desert Proclaim indeed she has a Roman heart But she 's a Queen and that alone withstands All which her beauty and her worth demands In Rome the Law has long unalter'd stood Never to mix it's race with strangers blood Tit. It is sign they are capricious grown When they despise all vertues but their own Paul Iulius who first subdued her to his Arms And quite had silenc'd Laws with Wars alarms Burning for Cleopatra's love to Fame More just fled from her eyes and hid his flame Tit. But which way from my heart shall I remove So long establisht and deep rooted love Paul The Conflict will be difficult I guess But you your rising sorrows must suppress Who can a heart that 's not his own controul Her presence was the comfort of my Soul Tit. Afâ—er a thousand Oaths confirm'd in tears By which I vow'd my self for ever hers I hop'd with all my Love and all her charms At last to have her in my longing Arms. But now I can such rare perfections crown And that my love 's more great than overgrown When in one hour a happy Marriage may Of all my five years vows the tribute pay I go Paulinus how my heart does rise Paul Whether Tit. To part for ever from her eyes Tho I requir'd th' assistance of thy zeal To crush a passion that 's so hard to quell My heart had of it's doom resolv'd before Yet Berenice does still dispute the war The conquest of so great a flame must cost Conflicts in which my soul will oft be tost Paul You in your birth for Empire were design'd And to that purpose Heav'n did frame your mind Fate in that day wise providence did shew Fixing the destiny of Rome in you Tit. My youth rejoyc'd in love and glorious wars But my Remains of life must waste in cares Rome my new Conduct now observes 't would be Both ominous to her and mean in me If in my Dawn of power to clear my way To happiness I should her Laws destroy No I 've resolv'd on 't Love and all shall go Alas it must since Rome will have it so But how shall I poor Berenice prepare Paul You must resolve to go and visit her Sooth her sad heart and on her patience win Then by degrees Tit. But how shall I begin Oh my Paulinus I have oft design'd To speak my thoughts but still they stay'd behind I hop'd as she discern'd my troubl'd Brest She might a little at the cause have guest But nought suspecting as I weeping lay With her fair hand she 'd wipe the tears away And in that mâ—st never the loss perceiv'd Of the sad Heart she had too much believ'd But now a firmer constancy I take Either my heart shall vent its grief or break I thought to hâ—ve met Antiochus and here All I e're lovâ—d surrender'd to his care To morrow he conducts her to the East And now I go to sigh and look my last Paul I ne're expected less from that Renown Which all your Actions must with glory crown Tit. How lovely's glory yet how cruel too How much more fair and charming were she now If through eternal dangers to be won So I might still call Berenice my own In Nero's Court where I was bred my mind By that example to all ills inclin'd The loose wild paths of pleasures I pursu'd Till Berenice first taught me to be good She taught me Vertue but oh cursed Rome The good I owe her must her wrong become For so much Vertue and Renown so great For all the Honour I did ever get Her for whose sake alone I same pursu'd I must forgo to please the Multitude Paul You cannot with Ingratitude be charg'd You have the â—ounds of Palesâ—iâ—e â—â—larg'd Even t' Euphrates her wide power extends So many Kingdomes Berenice commands Tit. Weak Comforts for the Griefs must on her dwell I know fair Berenice and know too well To greatness she so little did incline Her heart ask'd never any thing but mine Let 's talk no more of her Paulinus Paul Why Tit. The thought of her but shakes my coâ—stâ—ncy Yet in my heart if doubts already riâ—e What will it do when I behold her eyes Enter Rutilius Rutil Sir Berenice desires admittance here Tit. Palinus Oh! Paul Can you already fear So soon are all your resolutions shook Now Sir 's the time Ex. Rut. Enter Berenice Phaenicia and attendants Tit. I have no power to look Ber. Sir ben't displeased that I thus far presume It is to pay my gratitude I come Whilst all the Court assembled in my view Admire the Favour you on me bestow It were unjust should I remain alone Silent as though I had a sense of none Your mourning 's done and you from griefs are free Are now your own and yet not visit me Your present of new Diadems I wait Oh! gâ—ve me more content and less of state Give me a word a sigh a look at least In those thâ— Ambition of my Soul is plac't Was your discourse of me when I arriv'd Was I so happy may it be believ'd Speak tell me quick is Berenice so blest Or was I present to your thoughts at least Tit. Doubt it not Madam by the Gods I swear 't That Berenice is always in my heart Nor time nor absence can you thence remove My heart 's all
wide does flow I can mâ—ke Kâ—â—gs and can depose 'em too Th◠〈◊〉 hearts must to my power bow down Aâ—d yet I â—m not Master of my own 〈◊〉 thâ—t to Kings so long a foe has been 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 my marriage with the Qâ—een If 〈◊〉 to morrow be not gone 〈…〉 will to her Palace run 〈…〉 tâ—â—ir rude outragious tougues she 'll hear 〈…〉 to tell and you to hear 〈◊〉 Now if my heart was to Revenge alli'd How miâ—â—t I triumph in her falling Pride To 〈◊〉 her Cruelties to me repaid Aâ—â—â—ith â—em all her tortur'd soul upbraid 〈◊〉 Titus I 'm more just and rather mov'd Thâ—t â—v'n Sir you dare wrong the thing I 've lov'd Tit. When I the Imperial Power did first assume I firmly swore t' uphold the Rights of Rome Should I to follow Love from Glory fly Forsake my Throne in every Vassal's eye How mean and dâ—spicable must I prove An Emperor led about the World by love No Prince the fatal story you must tell And bid from me poor Berenice farewel But if the hopes of reigning in my heart May any ease to her sad mind impart Swear friend by all that to my Soul is dear Entire I will preserve her ever there Mourning at Court and more exil'd than she My Reign but a long Banishment shall be 〈…〉 those Joys that wait on Pomp and Power 〈…〉 she her journey hence must take 〈…〉 that e'r I lov'd forsake 〈…〉 Care and Conduct I commend 〈…〉 my Rival as a King and Friend Tâ—â—â—earest Treasure I dare with you trust Antio Sir do not tempt me lest I prove unjust Her charms that madâ— me my own Fame forgo Will be too apt to make me false to you Tit. No more I know thee have thy Honour try'd Firm still in Dangers found thee by my side Thou knew'st my Love whilst thine was yet conceal'd When all thy hopes by my success were quell'd Even at that time thou didst no falshood show Exit Titus And wilt not wrong me on advantage now Antio No I 'le not see her neither dare I go Too soon from others her hard lot she 'l know Dost thou not think her Fatâ—'s enough severe Unless that I th' unwelcome Message bear I who'm her hate enough have felt before And need not seek new ways to purchase more Arsa. See she approaches now the Coward play And when you might have Conquer'd run away Enter Berenice and Phaenicia Antio Oh Heaven Ber. My Lord I see you are not gone Perhaps 't is me alone that you would shun Antio You came not here Antiochus to find The visit to another was design'd Caesar and 't is on him the blame must light If now my presence here offend your sight Th' are his Commands are guilty of the sin It may be else I had at Ostia been Ber. His friends are always with his presence Grac'd ' Tâ—s I alone that cannot be so blest Antio Too much his prejudice upon you gain'd 'T was for your sake alone I was detain'd Ber. For mine away Antio Tyrannick fair 't is true He kept me here only to talk of you Ber. Of me my Lord forbear this courtly art Y' are brave and should not mock an easie heart In my distress what pleasure could you see Alas or what could Titus say of me Antio Better a thousand times than I can tell So firm a passion in his heart does dwell When you are nam'd he 's from himself transform'd And every way betrays how much he 's charm'd Love in his face does like a Tyrant rise And Majesty's no longer in his eyes But there are things behind I dare not speak For at the news your tender heart would break Ber. How Sir Antio Ere night the truth of what I 've said you 'l know And then I doubt not Justifie me too Farewell Ber. Oh Heaven what can this Language mean You see before your eyes a wretched Queen Sir of my quiet if you have such care Or if my self your eyes held ever dear Dispel this mist of trouble from my Soul Antio Madam your self excuse For your own sake it is that I refuse 'T will not be long before the doubt's remov'd Ber. You told me once Antiochus you lov'd But sure'twas only that you might betray Or else you more would fear to disobey Antio I disobey you ask my life and try How gloriously I for your sake can dye It would by far be the more welcome fate Then now to speak and ever gain your hate Ber. No Sir you never shall my hatred find 'T is my desire and you must be so kind Will you Antio Heaven this constraint is worse than death You drive and will not give me time to breath Oh Madam put me too no further pain Ber. Must I then ever beg and beg in vain Hence forward Prince either the truth relate Forbear or be assur'd for ever of my hate Antio My heart was always yours and is so still For ever must depend upon your Will I wish another way your power you 'd try'd But you 're resolv'd and must be satisfi'd Yet flatter not your self I shall declare Those horrors which perhaps you dare not hear You cannot but believe I know your heart Look then to feel me strike its tender'st part Titus has told me Ber. What fear no Surprize Antio That he must part for ever from your eyes Ber. We part can things another nature take Or Titus ever Berenice forsake Antio Perhaps 't is strange that I shou'd tell you so But you shall find I 'll do him Justice too What ever in a heart both kind and great Love with despair most dreadful could create I saw in his he weep's laments and more Then ever dos fair Berenice adore But what avails it that such love he shows A Queen suspected to Romes Empire grows And Titus cannot with her Laws dispence For therfâ—ore 't is you must be banisht hence Ber. What do I hear alas 〈◊〉 Antio Nay to morrow is your last and utmost day In bearing this the Courage well you 'l prove Of that great haughty Soul which scorn'd my love Ber. Will Titus leave his Berenice forlorn He who so many Oaths so oft hath sworn I 'le not believe 't his love and faith 's more strong I 'm sure he 's guiltless and you do him wrong This is a snare to disunite us laid Titus thou lov'st me dost not wish me dead No strait I 'le see him and secure all fear Let 's go Antio Too well you may behold him here Ber. Too well you wish it to perswade it No In this your base degenerate Soul you show When you no other stratagem could find T' abuse my heart you would betray your friend How e're he prove Know I your sight abhor And from this minute never see me more Antio Oh Berenice remorseless cruel fair Born only for my torment and despair Was it for this so faithfully I serv'd Is this the recompence I have deserv'd I who
ask and I your pardon would receive Can you the wrongs which I have done forgive Ant. I never any Injuries did find No Berenice has always been too kind With one soft word how suddenly I 'm lost And have no sense of my disgraces past But must I then for ever lose you so I am no Roman nor was ere your foe No rather here continue and be Great Whilst I live ever hopeless at your feet Ber. Should I stay here and my wrongs tamely bear From him that shuns and flies me every where I have a nobler mind and you shall see I can disdain and scorn as much as he For tho 't is true I never can be yours Both Rome and him my heart this hour abjures Ant. To banish him your heart whilst you prepare VVhat will you do with all the Love that 's there There 's no one Mortal can deserve it all And sure a little to my share might fall Ber. Oh of that killing Subject talk no more I would have lov'd you if I could before Love for another struck me with his Dart And 't is not in my power to force my heart Ant. When first my Passion was disdain'd for him You kept me yet alive with your esteem But now at last his breach of Faith you see And bear it nobly too how can it be T' your self so Just and yet so hard to me Ber. What cruel storms and fierce assaults you make To batter down a heart you cannot take Till you have broke it Will you not give o'r No rather let me go and hear no more Antio O stay since of the Victory you are secure Pitty the pains and anguish I endure Kneels In wounds which you and none but you can cure Look back whilst at your feet my self I cast And think the sigh that 's coming is my last My heart it 's â—ad eternal farewell takes Be but so kind to see me when it breaks Ber. Rise rise my Lord. The Emperor 's return'd Conduct me hence let me not more be scorn'd Enter Titus Tit. How am I lost resolve on what I will Spite of my self I wander this way still Why would you Berenice my presence shun Ber. No! I 'le hear nothing I 've resolv'd on flight And will be gone Why come you in my sight Why come you thus t'exasperate my despair Are you yet not content I know you are Tit. If ever yet my heart was dear to yours By all our plighted vows those softest hours In which for ever to be true I swore I beg that youâ—d afford me yet one more Ber. I till to morrow had your leave to stay But my resolves are to be gone to day And I depart Tit. No journey must you take Would you poor Titus in his griefs forsake No! Stay Ber. I stay Ungrateful as you are For what a Peoples rude affronts to bear That with the sound of my misfortune rend The Clouds and shouts to Heaven in Vollys send Does not their cruel joy yet reach your ears Whilst I alone Torment my self in tears By what offence or crime are they thus mov'd Alas what have I done but too much Lov'd Tit. D' you mind the voice of an outragious throng I ever thought your constancy more strong Never believ'd your heart so weak could be Whose powerful charms had captivated me Ber. All that I see distraction does create These rich Apartments and this Pompous State These Places where I spent my happiest hours And plighted all my Vows false Man to yours All as most vile Impostors I detest How strangely Titus might we have been blest Tit. This art to torture souls where did you learn Or was it in your nature with you born Oh Berenice how you destroy me Atendants bring your Chair nearer Ber. No Return and to your famous Senate go That for your cruelties applaud you so Have you not honour to your full delight Have you not promis'd to forget me quite What more in expiation can you do Have you not ever sworn to hate me too Tit. Can you do any thing to make me hate Or can I ever Berenice forget This hard suspition was unjustly urg'd 'Gainst a poor heart too much before surcharg'd Oh Madam know me better and recall The wrong since first I at your feet did fall Count all the single days and minutes past Where in my vows and my desires I prest And at this time your greatest Conquest know For you were never so belov'd as now Nor ever Ber. Still your Love you 'd have me own Yet you your self command me to be gone Is my despair so charming to your view D' you think the tears I shed are all too few Of such a heart a vain return you make No never call those dear Idea's back But suffer me in this belief to rest That secretly long since exil'd your breast I only from a faithless wretch depart And one that never lays the loss to heart If you had Lovâ—d me this had nere been sent Here you have commanded me to banishment Opens the Tablets What wondrous Love you bear me this doth show Read read ungrateful read and let me go Gives him the 〈◊〉 Tit. You shall not go I have not given consent Nor will I ever to your banishment Your cruel resolution I descry To be reveng'd of me you seek to dye And then of all I love except the pain Nought but the sad remembrance will remain Antiochus be thou a witness here Ber. sinks down in a Chair Of all my misery and my despair Antio Dâ—spâ—ir's a Theam I only understand You if you will your wishes may command Such Beauty ready for possession see And leave that ugly hag Despair to me Antio Behold those eyes how dull and dark they grow Madam when at your feet I fall thus low Kneels Vouchsafe my sad afflictions to believe Alas ' â—is all the ease I 'm like to have When first the dreadful minute I beheld That by my duty and the Laws compel'd I found it forc'd that you must hence depart Though nothing e're can banish you my heart 'T was then mâ— soul had first a sense of fears Foreseeing your reproaches and your tears I then expected Madam all the weight Of woes that can on worst misfortunes light But whatsoever fears opprest my heart I find I but foresaw the lesser part I thought my vertue not so apt to bow 〈◊〉 am ashamâ—d 't is thus intangled now Ber. Let me alone and vex my soul no more You of your vertue talk't enough before Urge it not still to aggâ—avate my shame VVhen Crown'd with conquest from the wars you came I know you brought me but to fill your state For elsâ— the triumph had not been â—omplete Tit. Since you have then resolv'd It sâ—all be so And judg by this if y' are belov'd or no. No longer Torments on my soul shall prey Since I to freedom see so brave a way A way by more than one great Roman shown Who